1Thessalonians 5:14-15
Commands for Within and Without the Body
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#1Thess 1:3-10\\ Paul’s Knowledge of the Thessalonians
III. \\#1Thess 2:1-16\\ Paul’s Plan for the Thessalonians
IV. \\#1Thess 2:17-4:12\\ Paul’s Heart for the Thessalonians
V. \\#1Thess 4:13-5:10\\ Paul’s Message for the Thessalonians
VI. \\#1Thess 5:11-22\\ Paul’s Commands to the Thessalonians
1. \\#5:11-14\\ Commands to the body, about the body, for the body.
a. Commands for the whole body.
(1) \\#11\\ Comfort yourselves together.
(2) Edify one another.
(3) \\#12-13\\ Know those who admonish you and esteem them highly.
(4)\\#13\\ Be at peace among yourselves.
b. Commands for a subset of the body.
(1) \\#14\\ Warn the unruly.
(2) Comfort the feebleminded.
(3) Support the weak.
2. \\#5:14-15\\ Commands for within and without the body
a. \\#14\\Be patient toward all.
b. \\#15\\ Do not render evil for evil.
c. Follow after good.
We are in a section of Scripture where Paul is addressing the church on how to
treat people.
1. \\#5:11-14\\ Paul tells the church how to treat the members of the church.
a. We called these "Commands to the body, about the body, for the body."
b. Some of these commands were to the whole church and some were to a
subset of the church (the weaker Christians).
2. \\#5:14-15\\ Paul tells the church how to treat everyone, both saved and
lost.
a. It doesn’t take much study to see this.
b. Notice that Paul gives three commands and directs them to with some all
inclusive phrases.
(1) \\#14\\ BE PATIENT TOWARD "all men."
(2) \\#15\\ DO NOT RENDER EVIL TO "any man."
(3) FOLLOW GOOD WITH "all men."
c. So these are commands to be used with other church members, but they
reach outside of the church to tell us how to deal with the lost as
well.
I. Christ is concerned with how we treat others.
A. It has been obvious that God is concerned about how we treat other
Christians.
1. I mentioned a rule of God last week.
2. That is, God does not throw people away.
a. Some people help the church. Some people hinder it.
b. Some people tithe to the church. Some people take from it.
c. God loves them all regardless.
B. Now we need to understand that God is concerned about how we treat
lost people too.
1. Some times Christians get snooty towards the lost. They develop a
"holier than thou" attitude.
a. Those attitudes are never of God.
b. The only one who ever has the right to have a "holier than
thou" attitude is God because He is the only One who is
holier.
2. Our attitude should always be that of a humble servant.
a. This is what Jesus taught when He took a pan of water and
washed the disciples’ feet.
b. This is what Jesus taught when He told us that if we are ever
compelled to go a mile with a person, go with him two.
\\#Matt 5:41\\
c. This is what Jesus taught when He hung on the cross and said,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
C. In everything that we do before the lost, we must be humble, sincere,
and in subjection.
1. Could I say that that does not come easy for me.
2. It probably does not come easy for you either.
3. I think we will see that it is what God desires.
II. Exactly how are we to treat "all men"? Three commandments are given.
A. \\#1Thess 5:14\\ Be patient toward everyone.
1. What is patience?
a. For years, my definition has been "to wait without anxiety."
(1) I still believe that is a large part of patience.
(2) We all have to wait, but when you can wait without being
upset over waiting, you have achieved a level of
patience.
b. I believe patience is "to wait without anxiety and to react
without frustration.
(1) Waiting is only half the battle of patience.
(2) How you respond when things don’t go your way is the other
half.
(3) So how do you respond?
(a) anger, frustration, aggravation, short temper
(b) If these are your trademarks when the unexpected
happens, you are need of patience.
2. The Bible makes it clear that patience is an important virtue.
Lu 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
a. I take it that this verse is telling up that our patience
will largely determine what kind of life we will have—and
perhaps what kind of eternity we will have.
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
b. To be the right kind of servant to God, we must demonstrate
patience—even in the problems of life.
Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity,
in patience.
c. The older we get, the more patience we should have.
(1) Not that age gives patience, but PRACTICE does.
(2) The older you are, the more practice at being patient you
should have.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.
d. Patience brings contentment and maturity.
e. I take it then that impatience brings discontentment and shows
immaturity.
3. Again I emphasize that patience is to be shown to both the saved
and the lost.
a. The phrase here is "to all men," and women.
b. Perhaps some Christians understand the necessity of being
careful in their dealings with other Christians but are slack
concerning their patience with the lost.
c. This is not to be the case. We are to be tolerant and
loving to everyone in every matter, considering that this is
the will of God for our lives.
d. Consider it as if every person you deal with has the right to
come before the church and tell what you have done.
4. The Bible tells us that we can grow in our patience.
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
a. Patience is a spiritual virtue.
b. That means that no matter how much patience you have right now,
you can grow some more.
c. How do we grow patience?
(1) By having your faith tried.
(a) Your faith here is your belief in Christ.
(b) How is your belief in Christ tested?
(c) By persecutions and problems.
(d) So how is our faith grown? By having more problems.
(e) Some times they will be spiritual problems, something
relating to your faith.
(f) But at other times, they may be secular problems.
i. The car wash scratches your car.
ii. The drive thru messes up your order.
iii. The repairmen over charges you.
(g) So the short answer here is that grow in patience by
using it.
(2) Here’s the catch. For you to grow, the problems that will
come your way will always have three things in common.
(a) The problem has to be a problem.
(b) The problem will relate to something you care about.
(c) The problem will come unexpectedly.
(3) And here is another catch.
(a) You are going to fail some as you grow.
(b) The very process is going to be frustrating and
aggravating and heart-rending.
(c) But as you pray and mourn over this, eventually, God
is going to help you overcome your self.
(d) Your patience is going to grow.
B. \\#1Thess 5:15\\ Do not retaliate against anyone.
1. Perhaps this is along the same lines as the first command—to be
patient.
a. Some who are short on patience are often quick on temper.
b. That kind of retaliation can come in the form of WORDS or
ACTIONS.
(1) Words - Some people are guilty of "shooting off their
mouth."
(2) Actions - Some "act before they think."
(3) Both of these will get you into trouble.
c. The overall cure for these problems would be growing in
patience.
(1) God has a mechanism built-in to life to help this kind of
person grow patience.
(2) It is called an apology.
(3) When, because of impatience, you shoot off your mouth or
do something rash, the way to hasten the growth of
patience is to humble yourself, admit your wrong, and
ask for forgiveness.
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
(4) Nothing will make you learn self-control faster than being
held accountable for what you do.
(5) Parents, make sure that you make your children ask for
forgiveness when they do wrong.
2. Perhaps this is a command against out-in-out revenge.
a. What is the difference? Impatience is a rash, impetuous act
while revenge can be a carefully thought out and planned
behavior.
b. The temptation to seek revenge must be a common temptation
since there are so many admonitions against it. (Of course,
considering the persecutions the early church faced, we can
understand the temptation.)
Mt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Ro 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight
of all men.
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
c. However, the things that you and I might seek revenge over are
likely to be pretty petty considering what some of the saints
have endured.
(1) Someone cutting us off in traffic…
(2) Someone stealing a boyfriend or girlfriend…
d. But even if the wrong done to us is serious, we are not to
seek revenge but trust in God to take care of such matters.
Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
e. Yet, here again patience is needed to let God take care of the
matter in a way He chooses.
(1) We remember that God’s ways are not always our ways.
(2) It may be hard for us to accept but God will seek the
repentance and salvation of the offender first.
(a) If the offender accepts Christ, he will never be
judged for his wrong toward you. Rather, it will
be placed on Jesus Christ’s account.
(b) That is hard for some to bear.
(3) And if they do not repent, God may wait until the final
judgment to settle the books.
(4) For some, that will not serve as a good enough act of
revenge.
f. If that is the case, all I can say is…
(1) …that if God treated you like wanted Him to treat them,
you might change your mind.
(2) And remember, God doesn’t throw away people.
C. Seek to do good to everyone.
1. Rather than seeking revenge and being impatient with people, God
tells us to seek good for everyone.
2. That doesn’t take a lot of discussion to understand, does it?
a. We seek good for ourselves.
b. We seek good for our family.
c. We seek good for our friends.
d. We seek good for our church.
e. In like manner, let us seek good for everyone.
f. Yes, even the unsaved.
3. The end of the lost is going to be miserable enough. Anything that
we can do to give pleasure and joy to their lives today, let’s do
it.
God is concerned with our treatment of people—all people, saved and lost. If that
is something that concerns God, it certainly should concern us.
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